Mold filling device for making sheet materials



V. H. MEYER sept. 2s, 1954 MOLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS Filed April 2. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 1` rwy 0W 1MM. @Hna vom hvmy V. H. MEYER Sept. 28, 1954 MOLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1952 s. .w @uw V. H. MEYER Sept. 2s, 1954 MOLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2, 1952 rr.. H n I@ V. H. MEYER Sept. 28, 1954 MOLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 2, 1952 Sept 28, 1954 v. H. MEYER 2,689,974

` MoLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS Filed April 2, 1952 7 shets-sheet 5 24 In ve nor fernon H/Weyer Sept. 28, 1954 v. H. MEYER A MOLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 2, 1952 In ven for Vernon -[/.eyer

Sept 28, 1954 v. H. MEYER 2,689,974

MOLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS Filed April' 2, 1952 'r sheets-sheet 7 a Inventor VeronH/Vfeyer' Patented Sept. 28, 1954 MOLD FILLING DEVICE FOR MAKING SHEET MATERIALS Vernon H. Meyer, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 2, 1952, Serial No. 280,066

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for' forming alayer of loose particles and, more particularly, to a machine for uniformly filling or charging a mold cavity with plastic particles or powder. It is specially adapted for filling a mold or receiver with plastic powder preparatory to sintering the particles into a micro-porous sheet.

Particles of thermoplastic resinous materials may be sintered together to form an integral micro-porous article or sheet as taught in the United States Patent No. 2,371,868, granted -March 20, 1945 in the names of Herbert Berg and Martin Doriat. Porous plastic sheets of the above nature have been found useful as parts of footwear and also in other fields. In many cases the porosity of the sintered sheets has not been as uniform or as satisfactory as would be desirable. Despite the extreme care taken in forming a layer of uniform thickness of the plastic powder prior to sintering, the resultant sintered sheet often exhibited localized areas with widely divergent porosties. Individual insoles, made from such material, were found to be unsatisfactory and uncomfortable to the wearer only after actual wear and extended trial. As a result, sintered plastic insoles, not being consistent in quality despite similar treatment, could not be produced satisfactorily and in quantity to justify commercial use.

The present development pertains to a machine the use of which eliminates the difficulty above referred to and which makes it possible to establish and predetermine the uniformity and degree of porosity of a micro-porous sheet at a rate conducive to commercial production.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine for forming a layer of plastic particles or dust which layer is of uniform density to give uniform porosity to an integral sheet subsequently sintered from the layer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for forming a uniform layer of thermoplastic, resinous, polymeric and powderous material in a manner that is sufficiently rapid to be commercially practical for large scale manufacture of sintered micro-porous plastic sheet material.

Still another object is to provide a machine for leveling the upper surface of a deposited mass of loose particles while maintaining a uniform density in that mass.

To this end and in accordance with important characteristics of the invention, a powder dispenser with a downwardly directed discharging means is employed to All or charge the mold `cavity of a powder receiver, the dispenser including a doctor blade and an excess powder suction device. Preferably and as illustrated, the dispenser is provided with a hopper, the doctor blade is vibrated, and the dispenser and receiver are relatively movable whereby the mold cavity on the receiver may be lled or charged uniformly.

The invention will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a major portion of a machine in which the present invention is embodied with the parts positioned for the initiation of a mold lling operation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, drawn to a smaller scale, showing the side of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 1, and with the parts as placed subsequent to a mold lling operation;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine as viewed from the end shown to the left in Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale, and with some portions broken away for purposes of illustration and the upper hopper section being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on a still larger scale taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3, the mold and distributor devices proper being shown;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of portions of the agitators and a part of the powder discharging means;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 3, showing certain details only;

Fig. 8 is a view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 3, this separate View depicting certain details more clearly;

Fig. 9 is a view of some of the assembled details shown in Fig. 4 as presented looking to the right in Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of some details shown in Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrow A in the latter ligure; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of parts shown in Fig. 9 with a section taken along the line XI-XI of the latter figure.

In general, the machine comprises an elongated dispenser or discharging device for handling plastic powder, a receiver or mold for the plastic powder having a cavity facing the charging device, mechanism for moving the dispenser and receiver relatively whereby the cavity progressively may be filled and a suction device associated with a vibratory doctor blade cooperatively to remove excess powder dispensed to the receiver.

The dispenser includes a supply hopper Il), a downwardly directed powder discharging means I2 upon the top of which the hopper I6 is supported, together with at least one and preferably two agitators |4 and |6 (Figs. 5 and 6) and cooperating screens is and 26. All the parts of the dispenser are mounted on a carriage 22 for relative motion with respect to a powder receiver or mold `24 mounted beneath the carriage.

The mold or receiver 24 is in the form of an elongated tray having a shallow cavity 26 (Fig. of rectangular conguration extending over the major portion of the tray. The powder receiver 24 is so constructed that the depth of the cavity 26 may be regulated or adjusted to correspond with the thickness of the ultimate sheet to be sintered but the nature of this tray is not material in so far as the present invention is concerned and the details thereof are not specically described. As the description of the invention proceeds it may be seen that other forms of a tray or powder receiver may be used in combination with the powder dispenser and in fact the stationary tray 24 may be dispensed with and a movable platform or endless conveyor belt substituted therefor having a suitable shallow cavity or a number of cavities in its upper side to receive the powder.

In the embodiment of the invention as depicted in the drawings, the powder receiver or tray or mold 24 is supported on a horizontal structure made up of two side plates 26 and 36. These two plates are joined together by vertical end plates 32 (Fig. 1) and 34 (Fig. 2) as well as by upper horizontal plates 36 and 38 also shown in those figures. The two plates 36 and 38 are joined by horizontal side members 40 (Fig. 2) and 42 (Fig. 3) reduced or thinned innermost portions of which serve as supporting iianges upon which the longitudinal sides of the powder receiver 24 rest and may slide. The entire apparatus is supported on columns 44, 46 (Fig. 1),

43 (Fig. 2) and 56 (Fig. 3) which are joined together by horizontal members 52, 54, 56 and 68 (Fig. 1). The upper ends of the four vertical columns or posts are bolted to horizontal plates 66 and 62 which pass beneath the bottom i' edges of the side plates 28 and 30. The plate 66 is stiffened by a vertical flange or plate (not shown) and 'the plate 62 is provided with an equivalent flange 64 (Figs. 1 and 3).

Attached to the two side plates 28 and 36 is an inclined trough 66 (Figs. 1 and 2) to the lower end of which is attached a receptacle 68 (Fig. 2) for receiving excess plastic powder.

A variable speed mechanism l0 (Fig. 1) with its motor 12 is mounted beneath the horizontal plate 62 and the side plate 28. The variable speed mechanism is provided with a sprocket 14 which drives a second sprocket 16 by means of a chain 78. The sprocket 16 is rigidly afxed to one end of a threaded rod 8|] end portions of which are journaled in two brackets 82 (Fig. 1) and 34 (Fig. 2). The threaded rod 86 is placed parallel with the side plate `23 and the bracket 82 (Fig. 2) is attached to the top surface of the horizontal plate 36 (Figs. l and 3) whereas the bracket 84 is joined to the top surface of the horizontal plate 38 (Fig. 2).

Two electrical control boxes 96 (Fig. 1) and 92 (Fig. 2) are mounted on the supporting structure beneath the inclined trough 66. The control box is connected to the carriage 22 by a number of electrical cables 94 which are ilexible and are of suitable length to permit movement of the carriage. The control box 92 (Fig. 2) is provided with an electrical conduit 96 which leads to the motor 'f2 and a second conduit 28 which leads to circuits controlled by four switches |06, |02, |64 and |06 mounted on the outside of the side plate 28. A conduit |68 is attached to the side of the plate 28 to enclose much of the wiring.

The carriage 22 is a box-like structure made up of four side plates H0, ||2, ||4 and |I6. The side plate l2 (Fig. 1) is provided with two downwardly extending brackets ||8 and |26. These serve as bearings in which two rollers |26 and |28 are journaled for rolling upon the top edge of the side plate 3U. The carriage side plate |6 (Fig. 2) is provided with two trunnion blocks |36 and |32 in each of which is journaled a roller which rests upon the top edge of the side plate 26. One of these rollers |34 is shown in Fig. 3. Two rollers |36 and |36 (Fig. 3) are mounted beneath the trunnion block |32 for rotation upon vertical axes and for engagement with the opposite sides of the side plate 28. The journal block |36 is similarly provided with rollers |33 and |35 (Fig. 4) which are adapted to rotate about vertical axes and together with the rollers |36 and |36 insure that the carriage tracks properly as it moves along the side plates `28 and 3U.

The carriage 22 is provided with two horizontal end plates |40 and |42 upon which the ends of the dispenser |2 rest with thin plates |44 and |46 interposed. Two vertical partitioning plates |46 and |66 (Fig. 4) join the side plates I|2 and ||6. Joining the bottom edges of the side plates H0, H4, ||6 and the partioning plates |46 and |56 is a shelf |52 (Figs. 3 and 4) to the under side of which are attached two brackets in threaded engagement with the rod 66. Only one of these brackets |54 is shown in the drawings (Figs. 3 and 4). Joining the tops of the side plate ||6 and the partitioning plate |48 is a horizontal plate |66 upon which a motor |68 is mounted. Welded to the plates ||4 and |56 is a horizontal plate |60 for supporting a motor |62.

Joined to the bottom edges of the two parallel plates H6 and |43 are two plates |66 and |66 (Figs. 1 and 3) for supporting two bearing blocks |26 and |l2 respectively. A shaft |16 is journaled in the blocks |26 and |12 and has two arms |28 and |36 (Figs. 3 and 4) pinned to the ends thereof. Bolted to the arm |86 at |62 is a curved manually operable lever |66 (Fig. "1). The hub of an upstanding arm |96 is pinned to a mid portion of the shaft |16 and the top of the arm |66 is notched to receive a rod lill which is threaded into and is adjustable relatively to the wall or plate |46. A circular plate or washer |92 is in threaded engagement with the rod |6| and is held in adjustable relation therewith by two lock nuts |64 and |66. A coiled spring |96, under tension, is connected at one end 'to the washer |62 and the other end thereof is attached to the plunger 266 of a solenoid 262 through a link 224 (Figs. 'l and 8). The solenoid 262 is fixed to the side plate H6 by means of bolts 266 (Fig. 7).

Pinned to the shaft H6 between the arm |96 and the bearing block |16 is a cylindrical member 2li) having a notched finger 2|2 which is adapted to engage one arm 2|4 of a member 2 i6 pivoted on a long bolt 2 S. The latter is threaded into the vertical partition plate |48 and carries two collars 220 and 222 fixed in position by means of set screws (Fig. 7) for properly maintaining the position of the pivoted member 2|6. An upstanding arm 224 of the member 2 I6 is pivoted to the link 264 by means of a pin 226.

Welded to the top edges of the side plate ||4 and the partition plate |50 is a horizontal plate 236 (Fig. 2) to which is fixed a bracket 232 (Figs. 2, 9 and 11) by means of four bolts 234 which pass through slots 236 in the bracket.

Four bolts 240 are utilized to attach a bracket 242 with the aid of a tongue-and-groove arrangement 244 to the bracket 232. Slots 246 are employed whereby the bracket 242 may be ad-` justed vertically.

Two bored portions 256 and 252 (Fig. 11) of the bracket242 serve as journals for a shaft 254 and between those portions a cylindrical member 256 is pinned to the shaft for rotation therewith. The member 256 bears a curved arm 266 into the end of which the reduced portion of a pivot bolt 262 is threaded. The lower end of a turnbuckle 264 is pivoted on the bolt 262 and the upper end thereof is pivoted on a bolt 266 (Figs 9 and 10). A reduced portion of the bolt 266 is threaded into the end of a cylindrical member 268 which is locked in position on the end of the shaft of motor |62 by a pair of set screws 216. It will be noted (Fig. that the bolt 266 is eccentrically mounted with respect to the cylindrical member 266.

One end of the shaft 254 is extended and is in pinned relation with the hub 214 of a threearmed casting 216, two horizontal arms 216 and 286 of which are connected by pin and inclined slot arrangements to a doctor blade 262. The cross sectional shape of the blade 282 is best seen in Fig. 4 and it is to be noted that the ends of the blade 262 are arranged to rest lightly upon the edges of the powder mold or receiver 24. rlhe inclined slots, in the arrangements referred to, are made in the ends of the arms 218 and 286 and describe arcs about the center of the shaft 254. Pins 286 and 266 pass through. the slots and are threaded into upstanding lugs 290 and 292 respectively which are integral with portions 294 and 296 of the blade 262. A shaft 268 is locked in non-slidable relation with the portions 294 and 296 by means of set screws `306 and 362. A depending arm or short portion of the casting 216 is integral with a cylindrical member 364 (Figs. 4 and 11) in which is journaled a T-shaped fitting having a shaft 306 and a head 308 (Figs. 5 and 11), the latter being journaled on the shaft 266 and extending between the portions 294 and 266. |The shaft 306 is held in position by means of a washer 3|0 and a nut 3|2, the washer being locked against a shoulder formed on the shaft 366.

It will be noted from Fig. 4 that the blade 282 bears a beveled edge and is trough-like in shape and also that a sheet metal manifold 326 is provided which communicates with the trough of the blade through an elongated and narrow opening 322. A narrow space 324 is provided between the lip 326 of the manifold 320 on the beveled upper side of the blade. The upper portion of the manifold 320 is broadened (Fig. 2) and is connected to two iiexible conduits 328 and 330 leading to an air suction device (not shown). The manifold 320 is held in position on the carriage |2 by a bracket 332 (Fig. 5)

f bolted to the partition wall |56.

The dispenser, which includes the power disn6 charging means I2, is mounted on the top plates |40 and |42 of the carriage 22 and to this end two box-like structures 346 and 342 are provided which are bolted down upon the plates |44 and |46, respectively. Each of these box-like structures has two vertical ribs to strengthen them.

On the top of the box-like structure 346 are- `mounted three castings 346, 34S andr 350.

beyond the castings 346 and 348 which is sufficient for the joinder of side plates which make up the sides of the powder discharging device. These side plates are six in number and are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as plates 356, 358 366, 362, 364 yand 366. Also'attached to the casting 346 are ends of horizontal anged members 316 and 312 which serve as supporting means for the hopper I6. These members are also recessed to receive the top marginal portions of the plates 356 and 366. IThe hopper I6 is held in place on the horizontal members 316 and 312 by means oi studs and wing nuts 314 (Figs. '1 and 2). It is to be understood that the box structure 342 serves to support an L-shaped casting 366 which is similar to the casting 346 and two castings 382 and 334 which are similar to the castings 346 and 356.

The L-shaped casting 346 (as in the case of the casting 386) bears a downwardly directed and arcuate shoulder 368 (Fig. 6) which terminates at the bottom edges of the plates 356 and 366 and against which one end of the fine meshed screen I6 may rest. The screen |8 is provided at one edge with sheet metal anchoring means 366 which ts into a groove on the plate 356 and the other edge of the screen is provided with a series of coil springs 392 (Figs. 3 and 5) the top ends of which are anchored tol a plate 364 attached to the iiange member 310. The springs 392 aid in maintaining the screen I8 taut and in order to expedite their action a half round bar 368 is provided. The bottom portions of the L- shaped castings 340 and 386 are fitted and recessed to accommodate a second meshed screen 20 similar to the screen I6 and tensioned in the same manner, using a series of coil springs 400 the upper ends of which are anchored to a plate 462 joined by means of screws y464 (Fig. 5) to a bar 406. The bar 466 in turn is attached to the plate 362 by screws such as screw 468 (Fig. 5). A half round bar 4|6 is joined to the lower margin of the plate 362 to function in the same manner as the half round bar 398.

Journaled between and supported by the L- shaped castings 348 and 386 and engaging the screens 8 and 26 are the two agitators I4 and I6 heretofore referred to. These agitators are shown in the form of end disk members with multiple bars joining them. Each of these bars is attened on one side properly to engage either the screen l0 or the screen 26 but it is to be understood that the specific form of agitators is not material in so far as the present invention is concerned. The agitators may be in the form of brushes instead of being rigid metallic members as depicted. The shafts of the agitators cgcsmam f; s I 4 and-.d 6 -are:.extended.butsideoithe :dep ending o .leg ofy the casting: 34:8rand1the ends. ofr .thoseshaits fare :fitted with. sprockets lt2il11and 3.422 :swig: i4) :both of Vwhich are adapted tobeLdri-venzby archain #9424. which is operated by a. sprocket 426.1- on the -Mountedfongthe. sides platex. is a. ,stopandl .i Start switch i442 (Fig 3).-` for` controlling -jallrthe fgcircuits.

if. Electrical diagramsgfor :the circuits involvedare inl-,not.disclosedyinxthe drawings -as :they do not form .part of thegpresentinvention. Eachimotor :may Vbe controlledbyf; its` ,o-wrrhand. operated i. 'Switch if vdesiredand mechanism. fondischarging :1 each trayafter it is .filledmaybe dispensed'w-ith e^ with0ut;.-departing from the spiritoithe'invem 'iton. -'It suffices "herein to'. state thatrother forms' t of control maybe used fand `,the following. statement of; the imachine .operation is. sufcient for a thefpurposes at hand-to` showxhow the machine maybe operated.

Assumingethatathe. hopperv Imis-full of plastic` powder and that the agitators |12 and I6 are being .drivenor. rotated by the motor .|58.and thev caruriage 122v is in the .position shown in Fig: 1,.'.the ,motor :72' is started with theresult, thatthe cargriage isidriven at aunifcrm speed .over the mold Aor ytray-2lisinfiultaneous with. a longitudinal vi- .zbration:beingfimparted to .the doctor blade 1282 by operation of the motor .162... It is assumedl that "..thearms l'landi. have been raised to their positions vas illustratedbythe arm 311,80 in'Fig. 4. Thisfi'aisingiof thearmsis donebyruse or 1 lowering of thehandle. |83 to cause 'the arm f2-i4-and=the latchiZ |2-to.be.:placed intoxtheirfpositionsasshownsinFig; 7. itis'alsofassumed that i suctionisfbeingfappliedfby means oftheiiexible conduits-32tl andzSliz-to the manifold32l.

i Asthe carriage 22 moves alongzontliemollers resting von the platesmre `.anditil;porous plastic lpowder is siftedwor screened from the f cascade siftersforwscreens iiand 2i] .and is Adeposited lwithinwthepcavity f2tofgthegtray, as shown.y inFig. 5. f The .,rate-jofdeposition of the"powdeniszmain- 'tained slightly inexcessof that required to insure ithat'themold is iiled. wint-order to remove-the eXcessca-nd without locaiizing pressure upon the :powden orcausingthe powder to, become more dense in someiareas' thanin'others,i theblade1282 is reciprocated longitudinally by action of the. motor|`21and the excess powder 'displaced by the blade isy picked -up bythe `blade and drawnsofi through the manifold 32E).

IWhen the carriage vf22reachesthe-end of its pathof travel with the tray-24' iilledthe member @i3d will operate the switch|iillww'ith-the'result thatall action ceases in sofar as forward mo-f tion of the carriageis concerned `and--prefer l. ablyalso with respect tofthe airfsuctiona-nd-any action of the blade'l'ZdZy and'vthe sitters-for agiatators. Simultaneouss with i thisw` stoppagey the solenoid '.292 is actuated :.(because loi; :the :circuits zgrchosenlgand yithe l.bar All; is :.unlatched: with; :the resultitthatnthearms |'|8;and |801 drop` adis- :stance determinedtby-the position Vof :the nut v|915 :zon the rod ISH-v withtrespect to the arm |93. 51This will `bringithe .endsnoithe arms |18 and |88 into thezzsame horizontal'splane as' the tray i or'moldf-:dand thefcircuits are such-that the @motor E12-:subsequently will be reversed from its zi-original direction of rotation and the carriage '22s..will return toitsoriginal position, as shown in Fig. 1..=-.As :thisxaction occursy the dropped sv varmsLl zandi|80 serve `to eject thetrayll fully .fchargedffrom .thewmachine `When the member :4321.strikesi'the'rswitchI02 all power is cut off andlisrnot againI supplied until' the switch 442 is closed. The switches |00 and.` lzservemerely as safetyvrswitches.

A-'new tray. :Mshould -beffplaced in position beneath'thesdispenser for the next lling opera- 20 tion but this cannot=be=done until 'the arms V|18 .,fandff'ti are .liftedby the use of the handle'y |86. .Anyfexcess of ypowder which maypass by the vedgesy of theV tray or mold 424V is caught in the trough Se andis-.deposited in the receptacle 68 forlre-use.

.Having thusdescribed my invention, what I -claimvas new. and. desire to secure by Letters Patentof: the UnitedStates is:

1f., Anmachineior-forming a layer of plastic particlescomprisinga-powder dispenser with a downwardly .directed discharging means, a doctor blade mounted .in aplane parallel to said dis- Acharging -m-eans,` a suction device communicating. with-.thesidefof said blade nearest said dis- 35 charging means,l and a powder receiver vhaving a shallow mold cavity, the' said receiverand doctor blade being relatively movable with the blade .in a predetermined position Yheightv/ise of the Areceiver-to determine the level of the said paiticles deposited on the receiver.

2. A machine .-ior forming av layer'of plastic A.particles including a powder,A dispenser and a f powder-receiverv mounted for relative and cooperativelmotionwhereby the receiver progressive- A-ly may bevlied; said ydispenser comprising. an elongated =and downwardly directed powder :dis-

chargingmeans; a wedge shaped doctor blade xinountediin fixed-relation to .and at one side of .sa-id vdischarging fmeans,a-;anf"|` au suction Vvdevice f 4communicating .withvsaid':bladepsaid powder re- 4cei-verfhaving a shallowcavityfthe upper ^edges v.of the sidessof which :are in `contiguous relation withi said blade.

.3. A machine* -for .forming aY layer of plastic 5nfparticles comprising powder: dispenser with a downwardlydirected discharging means; a tray vconstituting aamold with a mold cavity facing ..said discharging.- :means, .means -for= moving the v...dispenser :and tray relatively whereby a cavity progressively may be .flled from'ione end to the i other withwpowder fromV said discharging means, a wedgefshaped doctorblade with` its `effective edge aty thetop :ofltheicavity for removing in a `...cutting.-nianner any excess ofparticles depos- .itedfand a'suction device ar-ranged at a spaced distanceabove andback. from the effective edge of .saiddoctoroblade Ifor preventing an ,excessive ,.build. up voffparticles .ahead of said-blade, said doctor -bladeand suction 4device being mounted in .xed relationto said discharging means.

4..-Amachineviorfforming alayer ofplastic .par.ticles:V including av powder. dispenser :and an f felongatedv'powder' receiver Amounted .for vrelative and cooperativef :m'otiorisin whereby the.` receiver r-'zprogressively may .be` Illed along its length,n said dispenser comprising an elongated and downwardly directed powder discharging means, a doctor blade mounted in fixed relation to and at one side of said discharging means, means for vibrating said blade, and a suction device communicating with the said blade, said powder receiver having a shallow cavity the upper edges of the sides of which are in continuous relation with said blade.

5. A machine for forming a layer of plastic particles comprising a hopper and a powder dispenser with a downwardly directed discharging means leading from said hopper, an agitator in said discharging means, a wedge shaped doctor blade mounted in a plane parallel to said discharging means, a suction device communicating with the side of said blade nearest said discharging means, and a powder receiver beneath said blade, the said receiver blade and suction device being relatively movable with the blade in a predetermined position heightwise of the receiver to determine the level of the said particles deposited in the receiver.

6. A machine for forming a layer of plastic particles including an elongated dispenser and a powder receiver mounted for relative and cooperative motion whereby the receiver progressively may be filled; said dispenser comprising a hopper, an elongated and downwardly directed powder discharging means, at least one agitator in said discharging means, a wedge shaped doctor blade mounted with its effective edge at one side of said discharging means for removing in a cutting manner any excess of particles deposited, means for vibrating said blade, and a suction device arranged at a spaced distance above and back from the effective edge of said doctor blade for preventing an excessive build up of particles ahead of said blade, said powder receiver having a shallow cavity the sides of which are transverse to said elongated powder dispenser and the upper edges of the sides of which are in contiguous relation with said blade.

7. A machine for leveling the upper surface of a deposited mass of loose particles, said machine comprising a wedge shaped doctor blade, means for advancing the edge of said blade with relation to said mass at the desired level and including means for vibrating said blade whereby any excess of particles is removed in a cutting manner, and suction means arranged at a spaced distance above and back from the effective edge of said doctor blade for preventing an excessive build up of particles ahead of said blade.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,882,052 Wyatt Oct. 11, 1932 2,320,728 Hume June 1, 1943 2,533,263 Johnson Dec. 12, 1950 

